Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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279. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to detail the process for jobseeker's payment claims (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27880/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A person may apply for Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) and must satisfy all the conditions to qualify for a payment, including parenting alone and having the main care of a child/children who are aged between 7 and 13 years inclusive. When a person makes an application for JST they complete the JST application form and provide all the information requested including details of their spouse, civil partner, former cohabitant or other parent of their child. The applicant then signs a Declaration that they satisfy all the conditions for the payment. A person must notify the Department if there are any change of circumstances which may affect their continued entitlement.

When a JST application form is submitted to the Department, the applicant’s declaration that they have the main care and charge of the child/children is accepted. However if the other parent contacts the Department to state otherwise, the claim may be investigated further.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position on the time limit for carer’s benefit; if changes to this time limit are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27917/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government acknowledges the valuable role played by family carers and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.

The main income supports to carers provided by my department are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.7 billion this year.

Carer's Benefit is a non-means tested payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce, or reduce their working hours, to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for Carer's Benefit if they have sufficient PRSI contributions. Projected expenditure on Carer’s Benefit in 2024 is estimated at €57.9 million.

The payment is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).

It is also worth noting that the payment is aligned with Carer's Leave. While Carer's Leave is unpaid, a person maybe eligible for Carer's Benefit (or Carer's Allowance) and their job is kept open for when they return. In line with the statutory provisions Carer's Leave is payable for a maximum period of 104 weeks for each person being cared for and can be taken in one block or in separate periods as long as the combined total does not exceed 104 weeks. As the Carer's Benefit payment is aligned with the period for Carer's Leave, any proposals for change would also have to be considered by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

It should be noted that not all those claiming Carer’s Benefit opt to remain in payment for the full 104 weeks. The average total number of weeks used by recipients per year from 2020 to 2023 was 71 weeks.

Where care is provided beyond the period of entitlement to Carer’s Benefit, the means tested Carer’s Allowance is available for those who are in need of income support.

I believe that the current arrangements ensure an efficient use of public funds while assisting those who need to take time out for caring and are in need of an income support.

Any increase to the current time limit would involve additional expenditure and could only be considered within a wider budgetary and policy context.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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281. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will expedite the decision on an application for carer's allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27935/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer’s allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 25 January 2024.

It is a condition for the receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.

This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision, and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and be likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.

As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor (MA). The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care.

The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 12 February. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.